NeuWS: Neural wavefront shaping for guidestar-free imaging through static and dynamic scattering media

Area of Science:

• Optical imaging
• Wavefront shaping
• Computational imaging

Background:

• Diffraction-limited imaging through scattering media is crucial for applications like bioimaging and remote sensing.
• Current wavefront shaping methods often require guidestars, controlled illumination, or scanning, limiting their applicability.
• Static and dynamic scattering conditions pose significant challenges for optical imaging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a scanning-free wavefront shaping technique for high-resolution imaging through scattering media.
• To overcome the limitations of existing methods, such as the need for guidestars and specialized setups.
• To demonstrate the capability of the proposed method for imaging extended, non-sparse, and dynamic scenes.

Main Methods:

• Proposed neural wavefront shaping (NeuWS), integrating maximum likelihood estimation, measurement modulation, and neural signal representations.
• Developed a scanning-free approach to reconstruct images without guidestars or controlled illumination.
• Utilized high-resolution spatial light modulators for optical aberration correction.

Main Results:

• Successfully reconstructed diffraction-limited images through strong static and dynamic scattering media.
• Demonstrated guidestar-free, wide field-of-view, high-resolution imaging.
• Showcased imaging of extended, non-sparse, and static/dynamic scenes through static/dynamic aberrations.

Conclusions:

• Neural wavefront shaping (NeuWS) offers a robust and versatile solution for imaging through challenging scattering conditions.
• The developed technique eliminates the need for guidestars and scanning, broadening the scope of optical imaging.
• NeuWS paves the way for advanced applications in atmospheric, bio-, and fiber-based imaging.